Robotics Adoption Central Conve

Animal Research Rule: Projects involving animals must comply with UKRI guidance and welfare standards.

Appendices Required: Appendix for approach where applicable. Team summary appendix. Project plan or Gantt chart. Risk register.

Application Limit: An organisation may lead one application and collaborate in two further applications. If not leading, it may collaborate in unlimited applications.

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service

Application Sections: Project details. Application questions. Finances.

Assessment Process: Reviewed by three independent assessors.

Co-Funder: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Collaboration Rules: Single applicants allowed. If the lead is an academic institution or RTO it must collaborate with at least one business. No partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible costs.

Competitiveness: Estimated 10% chance of success based on similar competitions.

Decision Risks: Portfolio approach may limit awards. High scoring applications may not be funded. Outstanding payments or non compliance may affect decision.

Decision Timeline: Applicants notified 23 June 2026.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs under Innovate UK rules. Subcontractor costs allowed where justified.

Eligible Scope: Create and operate a central convening body. Coordinate Robotics Adoption Hubs nationally. Act as secretariat for hub meetings. Share success stories and lessons learned. Develop standardised branding and materials. Create and manage programme website. Publicise adoption programme. Incorporate international learnings. Build a self sustaining model.

Funding Intensity: Up to 70% for micro or small organisations. Up to 60% for medium organisations. Up to 50% for large organisations. Research organisations undertaking non economic activity may receive up to 100% of eligible costs or 80% FEC where applicable.

Important Notes: Work must be carried out in the UK. Results must be exploited from or in the UK. Projects must start on the first of the month. Applications cannot be transferred between competitions. Funding subject to sufficient high quality applications.

Ineligible Applicants: Businesses in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework cannot receive funding. Organisations in financial difficulty are not eligible.

Ineligible Projects: Projects dependent on export performance. Projects dependent on domestic input usage conditions.

Interview Stage: Shortlisted applicants invited to interview between 15 June 2026 and 19 June 2026. Presentation required. Interview score supersedes initial score.

Key Requirements: Must demonstrate ability to convene hubs nationally. Must evidence existing robotics stakeholder connections. Must demonstrate expertise and credibility. Must create website as programme front door. Must embed mechanism for self sustainability.

Match Funding Requirement: Required where grant does not cover full eligible project costs.

Project Duration: 43 months

Project End Date: Must end by 31 March 2030

Project Size: Grant request must be between £1,000,000 and £2,000,000

Project Start Date: Must start by 1 September 2026

Publication Date: 2026-02-24 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Robotics Definition: Includes drones operating on land, sea and air. Includes autonomous plant and service robots. Includes industrial robots using sensors, actuators and control software. Excludes software only systems.

Sanctions Rule: Funding will not be provided where it would breach UK sanctions.

Subcontractors: Allowed. Overseas subcontractors must be justified. Lower cost alone is not sufficient reason.

Subsidy Scheme: Subsidy Scheme Robotics Adoption Hubs SC11454 under the Subsidy Control Act 2022

Total Fund Available: Up to £2,000,000